Homogenizing mechanism



Dec. 2s, 1937.'

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w. s. B-owEN ETA; 2,103,788?

HoMoGENIzING MEcHANIsM Filed Feb. 16. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l amillims'freemm,

M, www 'K 127m' ATTORNEYS'- Dec.28, 1,937.4- w s BQWEN ET AL v2,103,887

HOMOGENI Z ING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 16. 1934 y 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 INVENTORS: Q

ma ATTORNEYS l Patented Dec. 28, 1937.`

UNITED STATES PATENT orifice Westfield, N. J.

' Application February 16, 1934, Serial No. 711,614

The present invention relates to homogenizing mechanisms and embodies. more specically, an improved homogenizing device wherein means is provided to regulate, properly, the rate of feed of substance to the mechanism, as well as discharge controlling means whereby the h'omogenized substance may be discharged from the homogenizing chamber in a desired fashion. The invention further includes a homogenizing mechanism having an improved feeding device by means of which the homogenization ofsubstance I may be accomplished more eectively.

More particularly, the invention. embodies certain features which have been designed. for use in connection with the copending 'application of i William Spencer Bowenfser. No. 712,132, led February 20, 1934, and although shown as embodied in a Structure-following that described and shown in the above identied pending appli- 2 cation, it is obvious that the featuresmay be v applied` to many forms of mechanisms designedv for performing operations similar to those performed. by the mechanism described herein. The

particular features above referred to include an u improved spray head construction by meansof -which substance may be fed uniformly and effectively to the homogenizing head whereby a more uniform homogenization is accomplished, as well as an improved suction control for the feeding of substancertojthe homogenizer. This control is designed to be responsive to the suction created by the homogenizer head and varies the supply of substance to the head in accordance with the capacity of the head to homogenize y the same. The invention further contemplates the provision'of a discharge mechanism controlled by the pressure produced by the homogenizing head in operation, the building up of sufficient pressure therebyserving to actuate the discharge mechanism in a suitable fashion. l

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as it is described in further detail in connection with the 'accompanying drawings, wherein: I C Figure l is a view in section, taken through the axis of a homogenizing mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention', and howing the various features of the invention. Figure 2'is a view in .end elevation partly broken away and in section showing the driving mecha- 4nism for Ythe homogenizing head.

Figure 3 is a plan view, partly broken away and in section, showing the construction of the homogenizing head.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view inl section. simi- 9 Claims. (Cl. 9 9-266) lar to Figure 1, and showing the detalls of an `element of the supply mechanism for the homogenizing head. Figure 5 is a view in section, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the 5 arrows. Figure 6 is a segmental view in section, showing an improved form of discharge mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention. A i s 10 Figure 'l is a view in end elevation of the mechanism of Figure 6. l

Referring to the above drawings, the homogenizer is shown in Figure 1 as being formed with a bell-shaped housing Il) which forms a homogenu izing chamber II, the housing having an inwardly and upwardly sloping top wall I2 and a downwardly and inwardly sloping bottom wall I3.

The formation of the top wall I2 causes the device to be self-scavenging and -the housing is adapted to receive a cover plate I4 within which a hollow shaft I5 is -journaled by means of a bearingl I6. A sealing member I1 is provided to form a seal between the cover plate I4 and the rotatable hollow shaft I5 andthe assembly may 25 be secured to the housing I0 by means of bolts I3.

Mounted upon the cover plate I4 is a housing I9 which-may be securedto the plate by means of bolts 20 and which is provided with a bearing 2| in which the hollow shaft I5 is journaled. The 30 housing I9 is formed with a turbine chamber 22 within which a turbine wheel or rotor 23 is received. 'Ihis rotor is secured to the hollow shaft I5 and is formed of a plurality-of vanes, as shown in Figure 2. Fluid under pressure is directed 35 against the vanes 23 by means of a nozzle 24 (Figure 2). which. receives iluidfrom a supply pipe 25 through a balanced valve mechanism 25. The balanced valve is actuated by a spindle 21 which is controlled in a .manner to be described 40 hereinafter and the uidis discharged from the chamber 22 through an outlet 23.

Adjacent the bottom of the hollow shaft I5 a plurality of axially extending slots 23 are formed,

these slo'ts opening into a homogenizing head 30 45 (Figure 3) The homogenizing head is provided with a plurality of substantially radially extending blades 3| having forwardly extending fins 32 and inwardly extending ns 33 formed thereon. 50 The substance is directed outwardly under great centrifugal force and strikes against the surfaces of the fins 32l and is subjected to-shearing stresses in passing over the edges thereof; Effective hoymogenization is lthereby produced. The lower u end of the hollow shaft I5 is closed by means of a cap-34 or other device.

As described in the copending application, above referred to, the supply of driving uid from the pipe 25 to the turbine wheel is controlled by a oating plate 35 which is journaled at 36 upon the housing I9. This plate is provided with a plurality of U-shaped permanent magnets 31 the poles .f which lie directly under and in close proximity to a disc 38 which is secured to the upper end of the hollow shaft` I5. Upon thelower face of the plate 35 a cam 39 is formed, this cam being adapted to engage a roller 40 which is mounted upon the spindle 21. A spring 4I normally urges the roller against the under side of the plate 35 when the cam 39 engages the roller inasmuch as rotation of the disc 38 over the poles of the magnets 31 subjects -the plate 35 to a driving torque which causes it to tend to follow rotation of the disc 38. The cam `39 is moved against and over the roller 40. If the speed of the micronizer head should increase momentarily, the cam 39 dep'esses the spindle 21 and partially closes the valve 26, thus cutting down the supply of uld to the driving mechamsm. As a result the speed will be decreased and a nice and effective control of the speed of the head-will thus be obtained.

Within the rotatable hollow shaft l5 is mounted a stationary feed shaft 42, labyrinth packing glands 43 being provided therebetween to pro# duce an effective seal between lthe relatively rotatable members. The lower end of the station-l ary shaft 42 is provided with a plurality of vanes 44 which are preferably curved in the direction of rotation of the micronizer head to impart an initial whirl to the particles supplied through the feed pipe 42. The bottom of the pipe is formed as a conical seat 45 against which a conical valve 46 is adapted to engage, the valve being mounted upon a central spindle 41 which is slidably.

mounted at the axis of the vanes 44 and may be manually adjusted by means of a knurled knob 48 at the outer extremity thereof.

The shaft 41 is threaded in a cap 49l which is secured to an extension 50 of a tting 5I. 'I'he fitting 5I is secured to the top of the feed pipe 42 and has an L connection 52 which is connected to a supply pipe 53. A valve 54 is connected in the supply pipe and thus serves as a means for controlling the supply of substance to the homogenizing mechanism. 'I'he movable element of the valve 54 isconnected to a spindle 55 which is actuated by a pressure responsive device 56 through a suitable connection 51. -The pressurel responsive device 56 communicates with the extension 50 of the fitting 5l through a suction pipe 58. In this fashion, when the suction within the feed pipe 42 increases, due to increased speed of the micronizer head, the valve 54 is openedwider to permit a greater amount of substance to be fed to the microni'zer head. Inasmuch as the extension 50 ofthe fitting 5| is not directly in the feed line, the suction pipe 58 will not receive any of the substance which is supplied tothe mironizing mechanism and is only responsive to `the suctionwithin the feed pipe and head.

As the substance is homogenized, it is directed4 outwardly into the chamber Il and moves into the mouth 59 thereof. This mouth may be closed by means of a gate or other valve 60 whichlis actuated by a stem 6| and a pressure responsive device 62 through a. link or other connection 63. The pressure responsive device 62 communicates with the interior of the housing III through a pressure pipe 64 and, as the pressure within the chamber builds up due to an accumulation of homogenized substance therein, the device 62 is actuated to open the valve 60 and permit the contents of the chamber to be discharged.

A modified form of discharge mechanism is shown in Figures 6 and '1 and includes a device whereby measured'quantities of the homogenized substance may be discharged from the device as it accumulates within the homogenizing chamber. The outlet of the housing I0, in this form of the invention,is provided with a. lug 65 within which a measuring wheel 66 is journaled as at 61. This wheel is formed with a plurality of wells 68 of predetermined size, the wells being closed by flaps 69 which are hinged at 10 to the bottom of the respective wells. As the wells are moved in position beneath the outlet 59 the gates are vclosed by means of rollers 1I and thus permit the respective wells to be filled with substance which is discharged from the outlet 59 under pressure.

The measuring wheel 66 may be driven by a ratchet and pawl or rack and pinion mechanism indicated at 12, this driving mechanism being actuated by the pressure responsive device 62 which communicates with the interior of the' homogenizing chamber. In this fashion measuredv quantities of the homogenizing substance may be discharged under pressure as it accumulates within the homogenizing chamber.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings. it is not to be limited, save as dened in the appended claims.`

We claim as our invention:

l1.y A homogenizing apparatus comprising a chamber forming housing, a homogenizing head therein, a feed pipe to direct a substance to the head, means to control the flowy of substance through the feed pipe, and means responsive to pressure within the pipe to actuate the control means. Y

2. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a chamber forming housing, a homogenizin'g head genizing head thereon within the housing, meansA to control the flow of a substance through the feed pipe, and means responsive to the pressure within the feed pipe to actuate the control means.

4. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a chamber forming' housing, a hollow feed pipe journaled on the housing and having a homogenizing head thereon within the housing, a stationary pipe communicating with the ilrstpipe, means to control the flow of a substancethrough pressure within thevstati'onary pipe to actuate the control means.

5. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a chamber forming housing, a hollow feed `pipe journaled on the housing and having a homogenizing head thereonv within the housing, a stationary pipe communicating with the rst the stationary p ipe, and means responsiveL to the y5 pipe to actuate the control means.

6. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a housing, a rotatable head in the housing, a feed pipe associated with the head and communicating with the central interior thereof, a nozzle on the in feed pipe to direct a substance into the head,A

means to impart a whirl to the substance before it reaches the head, and means to vary the opening of the noz'zle.

'7. Apparatus for controlling a homogenizer 1.5 having a chamber forming housing, a homogenizing head in the housing to introduce a medium thereinto and create a pressure therein, and an outlet for the housing, said apparatus comprising a closure for the housing, and means actu- 20 ated by pressure within the housingto operate the closure whereby a pressure will be mainf tained within the housing.

8. Apparatus for controlling a homogenizer having a chamber forming housing, a. homogenizing head in the housing to introduce a medium thereinto and create a pressure therein, and an outlet for the housing, said apparatus comprising a closure for the housing formed with means to discharge predetermined amounts therefrom, and means to actuate the closure by pressure within the housingv whereby a pressure will be maintained within the housing. i

9. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a housing, a rotatable head in the housing having a closed end and an axial recess, stationary means.

in the recess to direct a substance radially into the head, and means to impart a. whirl lto the substance before it reaches the head.

' WILLIAM SPENCER BOWEN.

JULIUS FREEMAN. 

